Holiday Mini Sessions - Update

If you are looking for fun dog portraits for your holiday cards, look no further! Spots are filling up fast for the 2010 Holiday Mini Sessions! Just as a reminder, the first date is November 6th at Bone-ified Dog and the second date is November 13th at Dogtopia. Please contact me to reserve your spot now!

Now, please keep in mind, these aren't your cliche studio sessions with cheesy backdrops and silly props. No! These are modern, fun pet portraits for the contemporary family, shot in the same fashion as my normal studio sessions (for samples of my studio work, please check out my main website). Only minimal props will be used to give your images that special holiday flair. They will be perfect for the included custom greeting cards and prints!

Each session will last 20-ish minutes and will include everything listed below. You will also be assigned a private, 7-day online gallery to review your 6-10 final edited images. The entire McGraw Photography Catalog will also be available to order from if you would like any additional items.

These fun studio sessions will be available for up to 2 dogs. For additional dogs, we ask that you book a second session. The session fee is due at the time of the photo shoot and an 8.25% NC sales tax will be added to the total due. Bone-ified Dog is located at 20901 Torrence Chapel Road, Suite 104 in Cornelius, NC. If you would like to schedule a discounted grooming or bath along with your photo shoot, please contact them at 704-987-7770. Dogtopia is located at 616 Springbrook Road, Charlotte, NC. For doggy day care and boarding, you can contact them at 704-333-3063.

Hope to see you soon!!! :)

2010 Holiday Mini-Sessions

Well, the leaves are about to change and the nights are finally starting to feel chilly. That means its finally time to announce the 2010 Holiday Mini Sessions - Studio Style! On November 6th, studio mini sessions will be held at Bone-ified Dog in Cornelius. Yes, that's right! I'm packing up my studio equipment and setting up shop in a great location where the dogs can get pampered and styled before their big photo shoot. Now, please keep in mind, these aren't your cliche studio sessions with cheesy backdrops and silly props. No! These are modern, fun pet portraits for the contemporary family, shot in the same fashion as my normal studio sessions (for samples of my studio work, please check out my main website). Only minimal props will be used to give your images that special holiday flair. They will be perfect for the included custom greeting cards and prints!

Each session will last 20-ish minutes and will include everything listed below. You will also be assigned a private, 7-day online gallery to review your 6-10 final edited images. The entire McGraw Photography Catalog will also be available to order from if you would like any additional items.

If you are interested in reserving a session, please do so immediately. There are only 10 slots available and they will go fast!

These fun studio sessions will be available for up to 2 dogs. For additional dogs, we ask that you book a second session. The session fee is due at the time of the photo shoot and an 8.25% NC sales tax will be added to the total due. Bone-ified Dog is located at 20901 Torrence Chapel Road, Suite 104 in Cornelius, NC. If you would like to schedule a grooming along with your photo shoot, please contact them at 704-987-7770.

I think that's all the (not so) fine print. If you have any questions or are ready to book, please contact me today!

And here is Eva telling me to stop using her as a model (she is becoming quite the diva)!

Celena, Ben and Baby Ella

I meet Celena a few years back when she was only thinking about maybe having a baby. Well, the time has come and that dream is now a reality and she is soon going to be welcoming a baby girl, Ella, into the world. This self-proclaimed girly-girl was super stoked when she found out she was having a little baby girl. As the pregnancy has progressed, Celena has become more and more excited and, while she is understandable a little nervous, she can't wait to dress Ella in all the frilly and tiny little outfits she has picked out. Congratulations Celena on your soon-to-be mommy-hood. I hope you and Ben enjoy your sneak peek...

I started out shooting little Ella's room because she had the cutest little clothes and shoes. The room was so adorable, in fact, that I contemplated having a baby...well for a couple seconds.Celena is a huge Patriots fan, so guess what Ella? You better think Tom Brady is hot! :)

Hot mama! This little family is going to be a family of 5 including Rusty and Hurley... After shooting at the house, we moved down to the shore of Lake Norman. It was almost sunset and the pink sky really complimented the pink theme and made this soon-to-be mom glow.To me, maternity pictures aren't just about belly shots but the commitment two people have for something bigger than the both of them...

Best of luck to you, Celena, with the rest of your pregnancy. I can't wait to meet baby Ella! XOXO!

Logan and Regan

With this sneak peak of Logan and Regan comes some awesome news from McGraw Photography! I am happy to announce that my services have officially opened up to include baby and children candid portraits. This great addition has prompted a mini-makeover on this blog which you may have noticed above. However, in the next few weeks, check back for a major makeover on my main website! It will be easier to navigate with bigger pictures, more information, and a client gallery complete with slideshows. For more details on the new child photography venture, feel free to click on the information tab above. In the meantime, enjoy Logan and Regan's pictures! Regan loves her big brother and would not let him out of her sight. If Logan went down the sidewalk on his bike, you bet Regan was keeping a look out from the yard. If Logan ran around the house, Regan would drop everything and go after him. I think this picture sums up their relationship...a typical brother/sister love...

Regan has such an expressive face and you can tell what she's thinking without her saying a word. If I remember correctly, on the right, Logan had disappeared around the house and Regan had to make sure he was ok.Logan loves his big boy bike and took every opportunity to show it off...Love it...I love the look on Regan's face in this picture! She's like, I'm trying to eat here so what is my brother doing?

iPhone Photo of the Day - WANTED!

I'd say someone was busy last night. Hmmmm...forensics tell me the guilty party used a sharp, pin-like weapon multiple times to disassemble the victim. Hair samples found at the scene point to a tortoiseshell-colored suspect...

Doggy Model Call Results

The time has come for me to make the announcement on the Doggy Model Call! I really appreciate all of the submissions and am so happy to see all of the love and affection each one of you has for your pets. Now to be honest, I was hoping I would only get 8-10 submissions. Why? Well, I really don't have the heart to turn anyone down...much less a dog! And physically, I simply can't do more sessions than that in one week. Needless to say, I was surprised when I ended up with 37 dogs to choose from! Wow! Now I knew I was going to hurt someone's feelings! Plus, how do I only choose 10 dogs?!?

I stayed up until 1:30 last night looking over my list, going through photos, reading descriptions, etc. I finally managed to narrow it down to 10 dogs. Now I can sleep, right? Nope. I tossed and turned thinking about each dog. Did I have a good variety? Will people get upset? Will the pictures be good? Can I fit in more dogs - there were at least 20 on my *short* list?

When this morning finally came, I knew I had to stick by my decision. Here are the 10 dogs that will receive a free studio portrait session, a free 8x10 print, and 50% off one pet portrait session in 2010:

• Sasha - a 2-year-old Doberman
• Simon - a stunning Afghan Hound
• Mya - a pretty Husky with one blue and one brown eye
• Dozer - an adorable Bulldog puppy
• Sundrop - a cool-looking Dachshund
• Hudson - a fluffy little Maltese/Yorkie mix
• Bronx - a Pit mix with the most gorgeous eyes
• Penny - a princess Golden Retriever
• Spanky - the most interesting Chi mix ever
• Phoebe Buffet - a senior lady Saint Bernard

I really want to thank everyone that submitted their dogs for consideration. Please, please, please don't take it personally if your pup isn't on the list. I simply and physically can't photograph more than 10 dogs in one week...even though I was really considering it. As a token of my thanks, I'm extending the discounted pet portrait session to all of the families that submitted pictures of their fur-babies. Yes, you too will receive 50% off one 2010 pet portrait session!

Thank you again and I can't wait to share some of my favorite pics from the portfolio-building sessions!

New York Wedding

A couple weekends ago, we made the trip to upstate New York to attend a friend's wedding. We were at a loss when it came to buying a gift because they weren't registered anywhere. What to do? Well, I am definitely NOT a wedding photographer (too scared to try) but I figured I would try to grab a couple shots to give as a wedding present. I didn't want to interfere with the REAL wedding photographer so I photographed the guys getting ready - moments that sometimes get ignored. Hopefully these will make an ok gift for the bride and groom! P.S. - Props to all the wedding photogs out there! You gotta have skills!

The guys got ready at the groom's grandparent's house surrounded by family pets and pictures. What a nice way to include family members that physically could not attend the wedding...

Some little details from the reception...

Nathan and Mia

Saturday afternoon was hot and humid with a chance of thunderstorms. Thankfully, the storms never appeared and I was fortunate to photograph Mia and Nathan in some gorgeous late afternoon sunlight. The photo shoot took place on some beautiful farmland in South Carolina, surrounded by pastures, barns, and friendly animals - a true play land for young children. Many thanks to Mia and Nathan's family for picking such a picturesque location. Also, many thanks to Nathan (for helping me push the button) and Mia (for putting up with getting your picture taken). I hope you enjoy your pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them! On to the photos...

Mia is a gorgeous little girl and a "firecracker" (her mom's description). She had on the cutest dress and was more than happy to show it off for me.

Nathan is a true 7-year-old country boy and was totally in his element on this 30-acre spread of land...

I grew up with three sisters so I don't know what it would be like to have a brother. I figure it would be like these pictures below - lots of teasing and rough-housing...

After a quick change of clothes, it was time to feed the animals. How cute are Mia's boots? They were hand-me-downs from Nathan...

Mia got to ride on the Rhino out to the pasture...

...while Nathan got to drive his 4-wheeler...

Time to feed the horse, donkey, and goats...

...or just chase them around...

I gave Mia some flowers for being such a good model. I think they made her day...

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to grab a few shots of Nathan and Mia together...

What a beautiful ending to a beautiful afternoon...